By Sgt. 1st Class Scott D. Longstreet, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office
PINEVILLE, La. – Two Soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard competed in the Region V Best Warrior competition on May 12-15, at Camp Gruber Training Center near Braggs, Oklahoma. Staff Sgt. DeVanté Benoit and Spc. Drake Vidrine represented the Pelican State at the competition. Louisiana is part of Region V, which consists of six states, including Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. Each state sends one Soldier and noncommissioned officer to compete each year.
The Guardsmen faced 12 demanding challenges including marksmanship proficiency, obstacle courses, land navigation, rappelling, and a 16-mile ruck march.
Spc. Vidrine, a light-wheel mechanic with the 1022nd Engineer Company, 527th Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade, discussed the differences between the state and regional events.
“Besides the competition getting harder, it’s far more demanding with a faster pace between Army Warrior Task lanes,” he said. “The regional level had less academic stuff and focused more on the physically demanding activities.”
Vidrine continued talking about his preparation for the competition in Oklahoma.
“I prepared by continuing my physical training, writing papers and studying for the boards,” he said. “Since this was my first time competing, I tried to learn as much as I could to prepare for what I might deal with at the competition.”
Staff Sgt. Benoit, a recruiter with the 18th Recruiting and Retention Battalion, explained that this competition is not about winning, but about the lessons learned and the experience.
“Even if you don’t win, you learn so much, you learn from others, you learn from other states and that information can take you a long way,” he said. “Even if you’re not infantry, it doesn’t matter what your [military job] is–it’s the experience of doing Soldier things, sharpening up your skills and separating yourself from your peers.”
Staff Sgt. Benoit and Spc. Vidrine represented Louisiana and the Louisiana National Guard as the competitors for the Region V competition with pride and were prepared for the regional challenge.
“I feel super honored and excited to represent the State of Louisiana and all my fellow engineers.”, Vidrine said.
“It means everything to represent the Recruiting and Retention Battalion as the first RRB NCO to win NCO of the Year [in the state competition],” said Benoit. “Preparation is the key. It is the key to success. The more prepared you are, the better the chances you give yourself to succeed in anything you try to achieve.”
The Region V winners will go on to compete at the National Guard Best Warrior Competition later this year.
